The decision to remove Scott Linehan from the Cowboys' 2019 team photo came Friday morning, and, yes, it had a definite scapegoat feel to it. But that's fine. This offense -- even with injuries to the offensive line and an evolving situation at wide receiver -- should never have ranked 22nd in total offense or 22nd in scoring.

So to the degree that such a failure in a winning season is ever on the play-caller as much as the players, Linehan deserved to go. But if his dismissal is leaving Cowboys fans feeling giddy, it's too early for that.

The next step is the important one, and I don't mean firing Jason Garrett. Even in the unpredictable world of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, there is little chance that change at the top is forthcoming. The man who was fearless in kicking Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson to the curb despite each having won two Lombardi Trophies is reluctant to part with Garrett and his pair of playoff wins after eight seasons.

Whether he extends Garrett's contract -- I still think it's unlikely despite the recovery the team made this season -- is the key moving forward. If there is no extension, then you have to wonder what kind of coordinator is willing to make a move to Dallas with the head coach going into a lame duck season. Of course, one who believes he might be in line as Garrett's replacement could see it as an opportunity. But then there's the question of how much freedom a new coordinator will have to install a new offense.

The guess is it will continue to be limited as it was with Linehan. Garrett arrived before the 2007 season as offensive coordinator and, realistically, head coach-in-waiting. While he no longer calls the plays, the concepts and principles remain his. It's not like someone is coming in to run the Wishbone or the Run and Shoot.

But after five years, even with three trips to the playoffs, confidence in Linehan had evaporated with the fans and apparently players were struggling with it as well. The first step in getting the most out of quarterback Dak Prescott before deciding what kind of massive second contract he merits was to remove Linehan from the process.

The only sad part of Friday's move was Garrett's insistence the decision was his. He stated on his radio show Monday morning that there would be no major changes on the staff. Garrett was forced to backtrack in his Monday news conference because Vice President Stephen Jones said no coaching decisions had been made.

But Garrett continued to say in walk-off discussions with the media that no changes were planned. Now all of a sudden Linehan is out, and Garrett said it's simply a result of "substantive and open discussions'' the two held during the week.

The search for truth on that front is only mildly interesting. The next step with Garrett and the resulting hire are the things that matter.